Written by

Adam Himmelsbach

The Courier-Journal

Charlie Strong previews Sugar Bowl; coaching rumor...: Full press conference: University of Louisville football coach Charlie Strong talks about the Cardinals getting invited to play Florida in the Sugar Bowl and also discussed his take on the rumors that have him taking a job at another school.

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Reports emerged this week that University of Louisville football coach Charlie Strong was being courted by the University of Tennessee. Ron Butt, a member of U of L’s board of trustees and its athletic association, said in a phone interview Wednesday afternoon that Strong was unlikely to leave for more money because U of L would compensate him as he deserves.

“If he loves this community and really and truly loves this area, I have every confidence in the world that (athletic director Tom Jurich) will do what’s necessary to meet Charlie’s needs,” Butt said.

And now, it appears, Strong’s needs have been met. On Wednesday night Sports Illustrated reported that he has decided to stay at U of L, and a Scout.com reporter confirmed the news after speaking with Strong.

Strong is to address the media at 8 a.m. this morning, a U of L spokesman said late Wednesday night.

U of L worked to renegotiate Strong’s contract on Wednesday. SI reported that the coach received a contract offer from Tennessee and declined it Wednesday after contemplating the decision for a few hours. SI said that on Wednesday night he and U of L were finalizing a long-term extension that could be announced as soon as today.

Neither Strong nor Jurich responded to calls or text messages.

At his weekly news conference Monday, Strong created a stir when he was asked whether he would be back next season and responded, “I will say that at the right time.”

He also irritated many fans when he suggested that they should support the Cardinals with the same passion that University of Kentucky fans have for the Wildcats. But now that misstep will probably be forgiven as the Cards prepare for their Sugar Bowl matchup with Florida on Jan. 2.

If Strong had left, the timing would have put U of L in a bind. In addition to uncertainty about the upcoming bowl game, this is the middle of a contact period for recruiting. On Dec. 17 a 17-day “dead period” will begin, during which coaches cannot contact recruits. National signing day is Feb. 6.

“At this stage it makes it even more difficult for other coaches to come in and hold a class together,” said Chad Simmons, a national recruiting analyst for Scout.com. “To do that now, you have to retain one or two people on the staff to keep things together. You’ve got less than two months to signing day to try to rebuild relationships and show these guys they can fit into your offensive or defensive scheme.”

It appears that will not be an issue for U of L.

Adam Himmelsbach can be reached at (502) 582-4372 or on Twitter @adamhimmelsbach.